Leading Victorian weather forecaster Jane Bunn is set to launch a new website and app, which will allow farmers to “see” the weather.
Qualified meteorologist and commercial television weather presenter, Ms Bunn told the Australian Livestock and Saleyards Association conference, held in Melbourne, her new website janeweather.com was in production.
“It’s coming and I’m very excited by it,” Ms Bunn said.
“It will provide spatial maps of what the weather is doing, so you can see it moving through time.
“You can get alerts on what you need to know – there are so many different applications it will be good for.”
She said the site would be a “state-of-the-art tool to see the weather”.
It would give detailed information about vital conditions, such as how high, or low, the temperature was going to be and wind direction.
“Each month we will update it and look at what the seasonal indicators are, how the Pacific Ocean is going, how the Indian Ocean is going,” she said.
The site would would have a significant application in precision agriculture, and for activities such as spraying.
The site would use information supplied by the Bureau of Meteorology observations and advanced European Centre for Medium-Range Weather forecasts.
Ms Bunn said she had sought feedback from the general public as to what they would like to see on the app.
“How can we help you make decisions on your property or for your business?” she said.
Ms Bunn said she had received more than 500 responses from people who had advised her on what they would like to see on the app.
For example, grape growers might want information as to whether or not to spray for downey mildew.
“The more information you provide the more we can design the tool to help you,” Ms Bunn said.
It will provide spatial maps of what the weather is doing, with all the observations and forecasts, so you can see it moving through time.
- Jane Bunn, Meteorologist
